Context:

Cultural

Native American use of the Ann Arbor area was prevalent. It is said that Native Americans burned large portions of lands in the vicinity as part of their agricultural management. (CITE)

Colonial settlement began in Ann Arbor in 1824, with its incorporation by John Allen and Elisha W. Rumsey. The University of Michigan was founded in 1837 just east of the city center. During its early growth, Ann Arbor attracted settlers from New England and Germany. As the city population grew, residential areas expanded into the outlying areas including the project site. Before the turn of the century, several plat maps indicate that land in the project site was subdivided. An 1853 map, shown at the left, illustrates the location of Allen's Creek through the project site, the proprietary division of land into parcels, as well as the location of buildings. Though records of the early development of the project site were not extensively searched, this and other plat maps record changes to subdivisions, circulation infrastructure, water features, and other landscape-related features.